nerede / nereye / nereden

Where, Where to, Where from

Level 1

Nerede = Where? (Location)
Nereye = Where to? (Destination)
Nereden = Where from? (Origin)
Nereli = From where? (Nationality/Home)

How It Works

Turkish interrogative pronouns for place are built from the root nere. Because this root ends in the front vowel 'e', all suffixes attached to it will use front-vowel variants. Depending on the suffix, this follows either Two-Way Vowel Harmony (using 'e') or Four-Way Vowel Harmony (using 'i').

Neresi: The subject form. It consists of the root plus the possessive suffix. Use this to ask 'what place' a specific location is (e.g., Burası neresi?). Note that if you add further case suffixes to this form, you must use the buffer -n- (e.g., neresinde).
Nerede: Uses the locative case. Use this for static locations (Where is it?).
Nereye: Uses the dative case and a buffer -y-. Use this for movement toward a destination (Where are you going?).
Nereden: Uses the ablative case. Use this for origin (Where are you coming from?).
Nereli: Uses the adjectival suffix. Use this to ask about someone's hometown or nationality. In a sentence, it is typically followed by personal suffixes (e.g., Nerelisin? - Where are you from?).
Nereyi: Uses the accusative case. Use this when the place is the specific direct object of a verb.
Nereler: Uses the plural suffix. Use this to ask about 'whereabouts' or multiple locations (Nereleri gezdin?).

In casual speech, you will often hear nerde and nerden (dropping the middle 'e'), but nereye usually retains its full form.

Examples (6)

Anahtarlarım nerede?
Where are my keys?
Word by Word: Keys-my where-at?
Uses 'nerede' because it asks for a static location.
Yarın nereye gidiyorsun?
Where are you going tomorrow?
Word by Word: Tomorrow where-to go-ing-you?
Uses 'nereye' because the verb gitmek implies movement toward a destination.
Bu tren nereden kalkıyor?
Where does this train depart from?
Word by Word: This train where-from departs?
Uses 'nereden' to ask about the point of origin.
Sen nerelisin?
Where are you from? (Which city or country?)
Word by Word: You where-from-are?
Uses 'nereli' with the person ending to ask about where a person is from.
Burası neresi?
What place is this?
Word by Word: This-place where-place?
Uses 'neresi' to identify a place as the subject of the sentence.
İstanbul'da nereyi gezdin?
Which parts of Istanbul did you tour?
Word by Word: Istanbul-in where-place-ACC toured-you?
Uses 'nereyi' with the accusative case because the place is the specific object of the verb.

Common Mistakes

Using 'nerede' instead of 'neresi' when identifying a place.
Burası nerede?
Burası neresi?
If you are asking 'What is this place?' (identifying the subject), you must use 'neresi'. 'Burası nerede?' would literally mean 'Where is this place located?', which is usually not what a learner intends to ask when standing in a location.
Using 'nerede' for movement (destination).
Nerede gidiyorsun?
Nereye gidiyorsun?
English speakers often use 'where' for both location and destination. In Turkish, if you are moving toward a place, you must use 'nereye'.
Confusing 'nereden' with 'neden'.
Neden geliyorsun? (When meaning 'From where are you coming?')
Nereden geliyorsun?
While both use the ablative case, 'neden' (from 'ne') means 'why', whereas 'nereden' (from 'nere') means 'from where'.

How It Connects

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nerede / nereye / neredenLevel 1Where, Where to, Where from

Learn This First

To understand 'nerede', 'nereye', and 'nereden', a learner must understand how the root 'nere' (which place) interacts with Turkish case endings. This requires knowledge of two-way vowel harmony for the suffixes, the use of the buffer consonant -y- for the directional case, and a basic familiarity with Turkish question words like 'ne'.

Words in This Pattern

neredeneredennere

Practice nerede / nereye / nereden in Bubblegum

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